The Oaks Environmental Plantation Project

The Oaks Environmental Plantation Project is a plantation forestry project located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, approximately 35km south of Casino and 30km west of Maclean. Registered on April 2, 2025, the project covers a substantial area of 428.9 hectares. The site sits within the Richmond Valley Council local government area, a region characterised by a mix of forestry, grazing, and conservation land uses.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Specifically, it involves the activity of transitioning an existing plantation forest to a permanent planting. This indicates that the trees, originally established for commercial harvest (timber), will instead be retained permanently to sequester carbon, avoiding the emissions associated with clear-felling and soil disturbance. The project's "permanent" designation commits the forest to be maintained for a period of 100 years.

Environmentally, the location benefits from the Northern Rivers' subtropical climate, typically receiving high rainfall which supports dense vegetation growth. The terrain in this hinterland area is generally comprised of rolling hills with soils that are often red/brown krasnozems or clay loams, well-suited for supporting the established plantation timber. An interesting note is that the project proponent, Saul Clough, appears to be a sector professional serving as a Business Development Manager for GreenCollar, a major Australian carbon developer. This suggests the project may benefit from significant industry expertise in its management and design.